This is not my house, it is the neighbors - but one day perhaps we will get our garden looking half as good and ordered as this one. I took these pictures today and just so you know, this isn't the best time for the garden at all, that would have been a month ago. With such a short spring, summer and early autumn period, it is hard to get the balance right so that the garden always has something happening in it so it looks nice for as long as possible. This one is pretty good and a lot of work has been put into the planning and a lot of labor has gone into the execution.
I like the gardens in Finland as even the well-tended ones like this aren't over-tended, meaning that there is still the charm of imperfection in the design. I prefer the feel of a little nature creeping into the scene, rather than the impeccably flat and and groomed grass that can be found in some places. Part of the reason for this is of course the severity of the winter that freezes and unfreezes the ground and pushes and twists it in all kinds of directions, making a flat space difficult to achieve, especially if not starting from scratch, as it requires laying insulation about half a meter below the surface to stop the frost getting too deep.
When I took these, I was in the midst of cleaning trash from the upstairs area so more work can continue tomorrow - but saw from the window that the neighbor was leaving and took the opportunity. I felt really sorry for them as the garden looked gorgeous, the weather was good and they had been working hard the last few days for just this moment - it was going to be photographed for a magazine. Unfortunately, the photographer had to cancel as her child got a runny nose and couldn't go to daycare - so the slot was rescheduled for next week.
The problem is that an hour or so after I took these photos, a storm rolled in so hard that the plants were damaged by the strength of the rain. The storm was expected, so I ran over and grabbed some shots so at least they had something to show for their hours put in. I can't really do it justice as I have no idea how to photograph a garden as I have never been so interested to do so.
What I like about their yard is that it has an eclectic mix of styles that blend well together, with flowing lines that lead to open space, as well as structural elements that give a texture to the feel. There is a lot of overlapping components that seem in conflict if focused on separately, but live in harmony when viewed as a whole. The other thing I like about it as while it is quite a lot of work, it is also functional for living a good life, with well appointed spaces created for lazing in the sun with a book, or having a barbecue with friends. It is also a place that their kids enjoy too, which is important.
There aren't many gardens as well cared for in the area as this one, but in general they are mostly in pretty good shape, which is a good sign. Our garden was likely the most untended in the vicinity and I think that people are glad that something is being done to bring it into the loop, as it adds value to their property too. When buying a house, have a look at what is happening in the neighboring yards as it can tell a bit about who you might be sharing a fence line with.
As said, I have no idea how to photograph a garden, but I did manage to capture a shot of my only butterfly for the summer sitting on the mint flowers. I think that I should probably do some research and google some professional garden showcase images to see what kinds of angles and depths feel the best or suit my style the best. I did a quick edit on my phone to crop and bring the vibrance up a little on some that looked washed out, so that I could get them to the neighbors early. She was pretty disappointed by the cancellation, so hopefully at least getting some shots will cheer up her evening :)
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
Note: These were all shot on an Olympus EM-1 with a 12-40mm lens.
